USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > A history of Sullivan County, Indiana, closing of the first century's history of the county, and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth, Volume II > Part 1
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M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00828 3985
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017
https://archive.org/details/historyofsulliva02wolf 0
A HISTORY
OF
SULLIVAN COUNTY
INDIANA
CLOSING OF THE FIRST CENTURY'S HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, AND SHOWING THE GROWTH OF ITS PEOPLE, INSTI- TUTIONS, INDUSTRIES AND WEALTH
THOMAS J. WOLFE EDITOR
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO
1909
·
1314646
பகம்
Johnplays
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
JOHN T. AND WILL. H. HAYS .- The law firm of John T. & Will. H. Hays, of Sullivan, is composed of John T. Hays, who has been a leading attorney and citizen of this locality for some thirty years, and Will. H. Hays his son, who has been associated with his father since 1900. The firm are attorneys for the various railroads, coal companies, and other important corporations which are so much concerned in the development of Sullivan county, among them being the Evansville & Terre Haute Rail- road Company ; the Indianapolis Southern Railroad Company; the Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Company; the Dering Coal Company ; Consolidated Indiana Coal Company; Jackson Hill Coal & Coke Company ; Carlisle Coal & Clay Company ; Bellevue Coal Company ; Sullivan County Coal Company ; the West Jackson Hill Coal Mining & Transport Company ; the London Liability and Guaranty Company ; the Illinois Coal Operators' Mutual Employers' Liability Insurance Company ; the Central Union Telephone Company ; the Sullivan Lighting Company, and the People's State Bank of Sullivan.
John Tennyson Hays, senior member of the firm, is a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, born on the IIth day of November, 1845. His parents and grandparents were all native-born Americans. He lived on a farm with his father until he was sixteen years of age, attending the short winter terms of the common schools in his native county during that time. In 1864 he was graduated from the Iron City Commercial College at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, then attended the high school at Lisbon, Ohio, and in 1866 entered Mount Union College. He was graduated from that institution in June, 1869, receiving the highest honors of his class in natural science and mathematics. For a year after his graduation he was principal of schools at Calcutta, Ohio, and in August, 1870, moved to Farmersburg, Sullivan county. He taught in the Ascension Seminary there, and later in Sullivan, until 1874, with the exception of one year, during which he was principal of the schools at Oaktown, Knox county.
In 1874 Mr. Hays became a law student in the office of Sewell Coun- sel, but at his admission to the bar on March 1, 1875, purchased the inter-
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
est of Nathaniel G. Buff, in the firm of Buff & Buff, of Sullivan, continu- ing in partnership with Judge Buff until 1878. In the fall of that year the partnership was dissolved, as he had been elected prosecuting attorney of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit for a term of two years. In 1879 he associated himself in practice with his brother, H. J. Hays, and that part- nership was unbroken until 1892. From that year until 1900, when he received his son, Will. H. Hays into partnership, he conducted an inde- pendent practice. Although his law business is of immense proportions, his early life on the farm still draws him to the soil, and he now takes great delight in managing his farm, as well as a tract of several thousand acres owned by the West Jackson Hill Coal Mining & Transport Com- pany, of which he is president. He is also a director in the People's State Bank.
Mr. Hays has always been a Republican, but never was a candidate for any office except that of prosecuting attorney. He has always been a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder and in which he has taught for years in connection with the Sunday school. Socially, he is a member of the Columbia Club, Indianapolis, and has a close connection with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of Sullivan Commandery, No. 54, Knights Templar ; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 81, Royal Arch Masons; Sullivan Lodge, No. 263, Free and Accepted Masons; Sullivan Council, No. 73, R. & S. M .; and Sullivan Chapter, No. 188, Order of the Eastern Star. He served eight years as high priest of this chapter and three years as master of his lodge. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias as a member of Sullivan Lodge, No. 85.
He has been twice married; first in 1869, from which union his two daughters, Martha A. Hays and Bertha Hays Drake, were born. In December, 1876, he was married to Mary Cain, of Sullivan, Indiana, and of their marriage two children have been born, William Harrison Hays and Hinkle Cain Hays. The career of John T. Hays, most noteworthy and honorable, needs no commendation.
Will. H. Hays, junior member of the firm was born in Sullivan November 5, 1879. He was graduated from the Sullivan high school in the class of 1896, entering Wabash College in the fall of that year. After pursuing a four years' course in that institution he obtained his degree of B. A. in 1900. He had been interested in the law ever since he was a young boy, spending much of his spare time in his father's office. At his graduation he naturally formed a partnership with him, which has since continued. In 1904 Mr. Hays received the degree of M. A. from his alma mater, the subject of the special thesis upon which it was conferred being "The Negro Problem." In college he won the highest oratorical honors and ever since his graduation has given much time to public speaking.
A Republican in politics, in 1902 he was nominated for prosecuting attorney, and was defeated by fifty-three votes. From 1904 to 1908 (two terms) he served as chairman of the Republican county committee; was a member of the State Advisory committee from the Second district from
Soientstays.
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
1906 to 1908, and during the campaigns of 1906 and 1908 was chairman of the Speakers' Bureau of the Republican state committee. In his relig- ious faith Mr. Hays is a Presbyterian, and teaches a class of boys in its Sunday school. In Masonry he is a member of Sullivan Lodge, No. 263, F. & A. M .; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 81, R. A. M .; Sullivan Council, No. 73, R. & S. M .; Sullivan Commandery, No. 54, Knights Templar, and Sullivan Chapter, No. 188, Order of the Eastern Star. He is also a member of the Indianapolis Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons, and of Murat Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of both the Columbia and Marion Clubs, of Indianapolis, and is a life member of Sullivan Lodge, No. 911, B. P. O. E. He is a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and for six years has been state president of the order. Mr. Hays was married on November 18, 1902, to Miss Helen Louise Thomas, of Crawfordsville, Indiana, a daughter of Judge Albert Duy Thomas, who resides in that place.
ORION BOYD HARRIS, who was the circuit judge of Sullivan and Greene counties, Indiana, from 1900 to 1906, is a native of Knox county, Ohio, born April 15, 1859, son of Amos M. and Jane (Hill) Harris. The father was also born in Knox county, Ohio, the date being March 2, 1833 ; he died in 1900. The mother, also a native of Knox county, Ohio, was born in 1834 and died in 1905. They were united in marriage in their native county in November, 1857, and moved to Greene county, Indiana, in 1866, and lived there until 1873, when they removed to Knox county, Ohio. In Ohio, the father was a farmer, and also a general merchant doing business at one time at Newark, Greene county, Indiana. Retiring from mercantile life, he lived his latter years on his farm. The grandfathers on both paternal and maternal sides came from southeastern Virginia and effected a settlement in Ohio in 1808, remaining there until death. Grand- father Harris raised a family of ten children and they all lived to rear families of their own. Amos M. Harris, father of Judge Harris, was a stanch adherent to Democratic party principles. Both he and his wife were of Scotch-Irish descent. They were members of the Christian church. To them were born six children, as follows: Judge Orion B., of this memoir; Clarence W., residing in Syracuse, Kansas; Victor L., residing in same place; India A., wife of Harry A. Simmons, residing in Lakin, Kansas; Samuel C., died in infancy ; Myrtle, wife of Charles P. Worden, residing in Syracuse, Kansas.
Judge Harris was reared on his father's farm and received his primary education in the district schools. He then attended the Normal School at Utica, Ohio, graduating in the class of 1878. Later he was graduated from Kenyon College, Columbia, Ohio, with the class of 1885. He taught school two years in Ohio, and one year in Greene county, Indiana. Having settled upon the profession of law as the one he wished to pursue, he read law while yet a teacher in both Ohio and Indiana. In 1887 he read with William C. Hultz, of Sullivan, Indiana, remaining
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
until 1890. He acted as deputy prosecuting attorney, under Mr. Hultz, until 1892. From 1890 to 1893 he practiced law alone at Sullivan, Indiana, and at that date formed a partnership with William T. Douthitt, remaining with him until 1896. He then practiced law and managed the Sullivan Times, a Democratic local paper, until 1900. During the last named year he was elected judge of the Sullivan and Greene county cir- cuit courts, taking his office in November, 1900, and serving until 1906, since which time he has practiced alone. His office is now located in the Citizens' Trust Building. In 1902 a Negro was lynched in his county, and the governor of the state undertook to dispossess the sheriff of his office. The judge gave his opinion and the sheriff was not molested. Judge Harris is a Democrat, and in fraternal connections is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Sullivan. Besides his legal business, Judge Harris is the president of the La Gloria Copper Mining Company, of Terre Haute.
He was married May 8, 1890, to Rachel, daughter of Seburn and Mary Elizabeth (McCrae) Kirkham. Mrs. Harris was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, and attended the common and high schools and also the state Normal. She subsequently taught for about three years in her native county. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of the following four children : Norval K., Naomi, Amos Myron, and Phillip Hill. Both the judge and his estimable wife are members of the Christian church.
ROBERT P. WHITE, of Sullivan, one of the editors of the Sullivan Union, was born September 23, 1876, in Terre Haute, Indiana. son of Samuel A. and Rebecca M. (Pearce) White. (For history of the White family see sketch of Samuel A. White). Robert P. White is a graduate of the Sullivan high school of the class of 1896. He was then employed by his father in his drug store at Sullivan and in 1898, began working on the Sullivan Democrat, continuing on that journal until 1902, during which period he was city editor. In August, 1902, he was made assistant editor of the Sullivan Union, acting in such capacity until February, 1904, at which time, he with his present partner, Dirrelle Chaney, purchased the Sullivan Times, which they sold in March, 1904. Their paper, the Sullivan Weekly Union, has the largest circulation of any paper published within the county.
In his political views, Mr. White is a Republican; has served as secretary of the Republican county committee and was re-elected in 1908. Since the campaign days of 1896 he has been an active party worker. He served as precinct committeeman up to 1906. While engaged on the Sullivan Democrat, he also corresponded for the Terre Haute. In- dianapolis and Cincinnati dailies. Being a thorough, up-to-date man. Mr. White is interested in fraternal society matters and is numbered among the members of the Odd Fellows order, being advanced to the Encampment degree. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Order of Elks. The Masonic fraternity has also attracted him to its fold, and he is now a member of the Blue lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, and the Royal and Select Masters; also belongs to the Eastern Star of the same fraternity, all being lodges at Sullivan.
Mr. White was married June 16, 1906, to Bertha B. Briggs, who was born in 1874, in Sullivan county, Indiana, and is a graduate of the high school with the class of 1893. She was appointed money order clerk at the Sullivan postoffice and held the position for about five years. Mrs. White is the daughter of Dr. Charles and Josephine (Hinkle) Briggs. Her father died in 1903; he was a practicing physician in Sullivan, and counted among the leaders of his profession.
DIRRELLE CHANEY, who is one of the owners and proprie- tors of the Sullivan Union, a weekly newspaper published at Sullivan, Indiana, is a native of Sullivan, born October 2, 1877, son of Hon. John Crawford and Ella (Saucerman) Chaney.
Dirrelle Chaney attended the high school at Washington, District of Columbia, and the Wabash College, of Indiana, in which institution he took a literary course. In 1893 he was commissioner of the United States court of claims, serving two years. After his term had expired, he engaged in the newspaper business, first on the Terre Haute Express. In 1900 he was engaged on papers in London and Paris. In 1901-02 was with the Chicago American, in Chicago. In February, 1904, he in company with Robert P. White, purchased the Sullivan Times, and in March of that year purchased the Sullivan Union, having at the same date sold the Times. Mr. Chaney takes much interest in civic society affairs and is a member of the Eagles, Elks and Masons, and the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He took the thirty-second degree in Masonry at Indianapolis and is also a Shriner, and a Knight Templar.
ARTHUR A. HOLMES .- The present efficient postmaster at Sullivan, Indiana, Arthur A. Holmes, was born September II, 1856, at Annapolis, Crawford county, Illinois, son of John H. and Nancy E. ( Rains ) Holmes. The father was a native of Licking county, Ohio, born March 28, 1828, and died October 31, 1863, in Effingham county, Illinois. The mother was born in Crawford county, Illinois, August 31, 1831, and passed from earthly scenes in Sullivan county, Indiana, February 10, 1890. John H. Holmes was a farmer by occupation and went to Illinois from Ohio in 1848, remaining there until his death. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, but was a War Democrat. After the death of John H. Holmes, his widow married John L. Kaufman, of Gill township, Sullivan county, Indiana.
Arthur A. Holmes was reared to farm labor and received his educa- tion at the district schools, and at the College at Merom, Indiana, which
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
educational institution he entered in 1874, and from which he was gradu- ated in 1877. He had also taken private instructions before entering college. He then taught three years, one term in Illinois and the balance of the time in Marshall and Sullivan counties, Indiana. Having decided to engage in the legal profession, he studied law with Buff & Patten of Sullivan. After remaining with them for two years he was admitted to the bar in 1880 and entered into partnership with W. S. Maple of Sullivan, continuing until the spring of 1883, when he formed a partner- ship with I. H. Kalley, which relation existed until August 1, 1887. At the last named date he entered into the service of the government as special pension examiner, remaining until April, 1893, at which time he resigned. In 1891 he had purchased the Sullivan Union and after his resignation from office he was actively engaged on the newspaper, of which he was owner and editor from March, 1891, to July 24, 1902, when he again entered the employ of the government and continued until January 21, 1907, in the pension department. He was appointed post- master at Sullivan, Indiana, February 1, 1898, by President Mckinley and re-appointed by President Roosevelt, serving from February 8, 1898, to July 31, 1902, inclusive. ' He was again made postmaster in January, 1907, and his term will expire January 18, 1911. Mr. Holmes has always voted the Republican ticket and has been an aggressive party worker. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias order in Sullivan.
MAJOR WILLIAM T. CRAWFORD, who having now reached the age of three score and ten years, has been identified with the educa- tional and patriotic history for forty-eight years, and is one of the most honored and popular citizens in this section of the state. He was born on a farm in Jay county, Indiana, January 25, 1838, but when three months old his parents sold the homestead and removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, where his early years were spent. The major is the son of Samuel and Gracy (George) Crawford-the former being a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, where he died aged seventy-nine years. The paternal grandfather, John Crawford, was a native of Ireland (his wife of Scotland) and lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and two years. William George, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Ireland, while his wife (Linea Hull) was born in England. The ancestors on both sides of the family came to the United States about 1800 and located in Columbiana county, Ohio, where they became sub- stantial members of the agricultural community and continued their firm adherence to Presbyterianism. Grandfather George was a justice of the peace in that county for twenty-four successive years, and although a practical and successful farmer was a deep lover of music, and expert violinist and a man of cultivated tastes.
Samuel Crawford, the father, was also an agriculturist and stock raiser. In stature, he was a very large man, being fully six feet in height; in his manners, he was mild and kind to those with whom he
Vm . Crawford.
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
mingled and labored, and as an illustration of these traits it is related that he never had a quarrel or a law suit. His ambition to be well educated was thwarted when young, but after his marriage, by persistent reading and self-training he became a man of wide general information. Another commendable trait in his character was his unfailing kindness to old people, and morally, he was ever found on the side of justice and right. The children born to Samuel and Gracy (George) Crawford were ten in number and in the order of their birth are as follows: Nancy, widow of James Chaney and mother of Congressman John C. Chaney, who now resides at her farm home ten miles south of Fort Wayne, Indiana ; Ruth, deceased; John, residing at Roanoke, Indiana; George, deceased; Elizabeth, a resident of Idaho and wife of Thomas Crawford ; Jane, deceased ; William T., of this review ; Noah, deceased; Linea E., wife of Alexander McCammont, who resides at Rogers, Ohio ; and Mary M., wife of Sant Hewett, of Florida. All but Jane lived to years of maturity.
Major William T. Crawford was diligently employed on his father's farm and attended the district schools of his home neighborhood and the high school of New Lisbon, Ohio. He began teaching in.the same county and after being thus engaged four years, in 1860, came to Sullivan county, Indiana, and built the Ascension Seminary at Farmersburg. Be- fore its completion, however, in August, 1862, he raised a company and was made captain of what was known as Company H, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving as a gallant officer and brave soldier, from August, 1862, to June 12, 1865. He saw much actual campaign service, participating in fifteen battles of the Civil war and being hon- orably discharged as brevet major. His regiment was first encamped at Locust Grove, opposite Cincinnati, for a few weeks, and then moved to Falmouth, Kentucky. There Captain Crawford was detailed by Gen- eral A. J. Smith, to act as provost marshall of the place, which he did for two and a half months. The regiment then moved to Lexington and on to Danville, Kentucky, later being sent to Louisville, where it was transported down the Ohio river and thence up the Cumberland to Nash- ville, Tennessee ; and thence was transferred to Brentwood and Frank- lin, Tennessee. Before reaching Franklin, Captain Crawford was attacked by typhoid fever and pneumonia, and five physicians gave his case up as a fatal one, telling him if he had any word to send to his family they would be glad to communicate it. The captain said, "Dr. Hobbs, please tell my wife that I have been sick, but am going to get well and live to see this rebellion put down." Dr. Hobbs then turned to Drs. Wiles and McPheters and said : "His will power may yet pull him through." He began to recover, but while still in bed the rebels made an attack on the town of Franklin. He started for his command at Fort Granger, but was so weak that he was compelled to rest on the door steps along the streets. As he neared the river, five Confederates rode up and demanded his sword. The captain had not realized that they were rebels until after they had surrounded him. The leader at once demanded the captain's sword and when he asked him, "By what authority?" the rebel replied, "By the
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
Confederate authority. What authority did you think?" He then ordered him to get up on the horse behind him, whereupon the captain refused. The officer then drew his revolver on him and said, "Then I will leave you here." The captain replied, "You have the drop on me." Again the Confederate officer said, "Hand up your sword at once," and when the captain refused, the rebel demanded that he mount his horse behind him. For answer Captain Crawford knocked the revolver out of the enemy's hand with a hickory cane, which he fortunately carried. At that instant about one thousand shots were fired from the Union lines, one ball striking the leader in the mouth and cutting his tongue partly off. The blood shot out over Captain Crawford and fell upon his sword, which remained unwashed for many years after the close of the war. Another of the Confederates brought his carbine down upon the cap- tain's head, but a ball pierced the rebel's hand. Still another of the Con- federate squad was shot through the side, as he was taking aim at the captain's head. Another's horse was shot from under him as he ex- claimed, "Throw up your hands or we will shoot - out of you." At this critical moment Captain Bails crossed the river and assisted Captain Crawford into the Union lines.
A few weeks later two spies from General Bragg's army (Colonel Williams and Lieutenant Peter entered the Union lines, reporting that they were sent by General Garfield to inspect the camp, presenting as their authority a forged letter from the commander. Representing, also, that they had been surprised and robbed by rebels, they borrowed fifty dollars from Colonel Baird and obtained from him a pass to go to Nash- ville. Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Regiment (a graduate of West Point) recognized one of the spies as being a classmate of his and they had no sooner left camp than that officer remarked to Colonel Baird : "Those men are spies." As quick as thought, Baird said, "Overtake them and bring them back," which command was accomplished as the Con- federates were nearing the outer picket lines. Blandly telling them that the rebels were between them and Nashville and that Colonel Baird wished to send them a guard, Colonel Watkins led them to the regimental headquarters. One of the spies-a distant relative of Washington, an- swered "We have no fears." But Colonel Watkins persisted and they were brought back. Each wore a white visor on his cap; when they returned a strong guard was placed around the tent. Colonel Baird stepped up to Colonel Williams and raised the white visor from his cap and saw on the band "C. S. A." (meaning Confederate States of Amer- ica.) The same conclusive evidence was found on their swords, when they were drawn from their sheaths. Captain Crawford was made judge advocate at the trial, which was short and conclusive as to their guilt. Colonel Baird tried to escape the painful duty of hanging them, but, in reply to his telegram, General Garfield telegraphed, "If guilty, hang them at once," and they were accordingly executed-hanged to a wild cherry tree near Fort Granger-June 9, 1863. It is said that the Confederate, Colonel Williams, was a relative of General Lee.
After the war Major Crawford refitted the Ascension Seminary, and
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY
in September, 1865, opened a normal school which he conducted until 1872. In that year he moved to Sullivan and consolidated it with the local high school, conducting the higher department as a Normal Insti- tute until 1876, and out of the number who have been educated under him, two thousand two hundred and eighty-three have followed teaching as a profession. After 1876 the major engaged in the pension business in which he is still engaged and during this period of thirty-two years he has obtained between six and seven thousand pensions and increases, the beneficiaries being residents of twenty-three states.
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